Aggressive Sox end 5-game loss streak

The response to manager Ozzie Guillen's message became clear in the first inning.

Seconds after Darin Erstad broke up a potential double play Saturday, a beehive of teammates congratulated him.

That typified the spark that was missing during a five-game losing streak that ended with a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

"Right out of the gate," said Jon Garland (1-2), who pitched seven-plus innings of three-run ball. "It looked like [more energy] was definitely there."

The Sox cured their offensive woes as Pablo Ozuna stole the first of two bases for the Sox, who hadn't attempted a steal since Erstad stole second on April 21 at Detroit. The 10-game stolen-base drought was their longest since 1996, when they went 12 without a stolen base.

The Sox also mounted a 10-hit attack for the first time since April 24 at Kansas City and delivered a series of clutch hits that staked Garland to a 3-0 lead and helped the Sox regain the lead in the sixth.

"They were aggressive and made me do the little things to help them," Guillen said. "You see [Paul] Konerko running and [Joe] Crede running. They were ready to play the game we should be playing. You can only do that when you are on base. We have good at-bats and we were facing one of the best pitchers (John Lackey) in the game. We did a good job making him throw a lot of pitches (114)."

Guillen spoke to some of his players before the game to elaborate on the need to play with more passion after expressing his disappointment following Friday night's listless 5-1 loss to the Angels.

He also left a message on a clubhouse board that read, "run the bases," as a reminder to hustle at all times.

The Sox responded from Erstad's takeout of Erick Aybar at second to Alex Cintron breaking from third on a grounder to the mound in the ninth that pitcher Darren Oliver botched for an error that resulted in an insurance run.

Cintron snapped out of a 2-for-27 slump with an RBI double in the second and a single that fueled a two-run ninth.

"It's hard for him," Guillen said. "He plays once a week and then he has the stuff in Puerto Rico (attending to an ill grandfather). When he comes back, we put him in the lineup. He couldn't get it done. The way he hits, it's all about timing."

Every starting position player but Ozuna and Jermaine Dye had at least one hit as the Sox's six runs were one shy than what they amassed during their five-game rut. They also manufactured all six runs without the benefit of a homer.

Crede's two-out RBI single snapped a 3-3 tie in the sixth and his 1-for-13 slump.

The Sox, however, weren't getting carried away with their offensive production, even with a chance to take the series with a victory Sunday and knowing they aren't scheduled to face nemesis Johan Santana this week at Minnesota.

"It's the same thing every day," Erstad said. "You guys are going to talk about it until it gets going. We'll keep working and battling until we get it done."